"I didn't actually expect the fucker to agree to the terms. I expected him to come out fighting till the bitter end." Zell barked out, looking around the Hyfe's inner sanctum for some hard liquor.


"If he would have continued the war, we'd have imprisoned him and run our fleets all over the border cutting his East from his West," Daemon Hyfe clarified pointing his retired Grand Moff in the direction of the drinks.

It was well known among the High Command that the Emperor preferred his own select brand of alcohol and had a stash hidden somewhere. It was said he did not trust drinks from others.

"We would be seeing the final death throws of our enemy by now," Kaine said quietly. "Perhaps we would meet the onrush of Dragons."

The Emperor narrowed his eyes, "You think they will push forward? What of their word to remain within their borders?"

Kaine smirked, "Perhaps once they are done beating the Coalition fleet into submission they will retreat back behind their border."

"Bullshit!" Zell remarked. "They are as powerhungry as the rest of us. If that fucking toy maker of theirs, Raktus, sees an opportunity, he'll take it. The question we need to be asking is, what do we do if he gets too greedy for his own good?"

Kaine took the glass the old man had handed him as the Emperor slowly sipped on his own.

Hyfe frowned, "Then we scale his borders back to a more manageable size. If his current boundaries affords the 'god of the Dragons' too much temptation, obviously we need to set his piety on the straight and narrow."

"Straight to fucking hell," Zell remarked tossing his head back.

"Well, the two week timetable for the Coalition wishing to leave the Occupation Zone gives us time to draw up occupation planning and pacification measures. Desaria should have ships at each world in the next few days to oversee their evacuation. We should probably appoint Desaria as temporary Operational Commandant of the Zone until we have time to formalize things."

"And so the Azguard keeps his Coalition alive alittle longer.." the Emperor mused. "He's learning."

Zell scratched his head, "He needs to gain control of the central government if he's going to be effective."

Kaine looked up, "Perhaps we can aid him in that? Through the Office at Metalorn."

Azrael snorted. "Those Confederation fuckers are in for a treat."

Hyfe's smile showed teeth, "I want the Embassy ready to leave within the week supported by the Sixth Fleet. No more Coalition blunders!"

"At least in our space.." Zell mumbled back.

Epilogue

The Galactic Coalition's Prime Minister felt his heavy heart return on his trip back, his brief burst of confidence fading under the slow realization of what he had agreed to. That there was no choice in the matter didn't help things, either.

As he crossed the gardens, Imperial soldiers forming a tight phalanx around him, Regrad stopped to sigh and reached into his pocket. There was a brief tensing until the guards saw him draw out a small figurine, carved of wood and painted white. He stopped one of the numerous aides flowing back and forth to tend to those still in the throne room, and pressed the Queen chess piece into his hand.

"Give this to the supreme commander with my congradulations on a good turn," he stated cryptically, before patting the bemused aide on the back and sending him on his way. The guards escorted him the rest of the way out of the gardens without a word.

As Regrad reached his shuttle the Imperial escort hung back, watching the huge alien lumber off towards the boarding ramp. As he reached the shuttle, both its' pilots came stumbling out, glancing around nervously. Regrad, curious about what the problem was, went to speak with them.

"The time's come to leave, what's the matter?"

One of the pilots looked at his Prime Minister sheepishy, eventually saying "The uh... the comm system is clogged. Clogged with some very angry voices, sir."

The other pilot nodded furiously in agreement, pointing into the shuttle. "It's like a lightshow in there, sir. The computer's swamped with messages."

"Is it now?" Regrad strode aboard the ship, the faint sound of shouting growing louder as he approached the cockpit.

As the last door opened, a wall of angry voices hit him. They were so numerous and varied as to be completely incoherent, but the occasional word - traitor, coward, tyrant - broke through the noise. The control panel was alive with lights as signals were choked down every receptor on the ship. Screens were filled with messages from dozens of sources, slowing the ship's systems to a standstill.

In the epicenter of it all stood the battered, weary figure of Regrad, listening to the uproar all around him. A vein or two started to pulse across his forehead.

Finally, he could stand the noise no longer. He slammed on the comms, filling the small room with the full force of his allies' frustration.

"Shut up!" he roared, silencing the startled critics. A few quiet moments reigned as Regrad massaged his temples. Feeling somewhat restored, he leaned forwards towards the comm. "We don't have time to discuss this in a committee. I will be heading straight to the House of Representatives in time for the next session - any greivance you have against my policy decisions can be voiced there.

"In the meantime, you will stand by the decision made by the duly elected chief representative of the Coalition and the constitution which I represent, or you will cease to be members of that Coalition. Is that entirely clear?"

No responses came his way. In rapid succession, the different speakers disconnected, leaving Regrad alone. The pilots, creeping up quietly, took their places and began takeoff procedures. Regrad lingered for a few moments more before retiring to his quarters. He felt far older than when he had arrived, though the entire meeting had taken barely any time at all.

Regrad fell on to his bed, but sleep was still a distant prospect. Instead, he savoured the hours of peace and quiet he had won until arriving home to deal with the uproar over his decisions. There was a genuine chance the Onyxians would want to kill him after he effectively cut them loose. Not to mention some provinces might find their desire to stay with a Coalition that wouldn't support them in times of crisis draining away - and he couldn't blame them for it.

Lying there, drowning in despair and defeat yet again, Regrad felt the familiar rise of resolve from within. He had faced worse disasters before and survived, had he not? He had defied galactic expections and endured beyond anyone's projections. Rising from his bed with renewed vigor, Regrad crossed over to a nearby computer and got to work laying out the tasks that awaited him.

The battle was over. The war, however, was far from lost.



The entire House of Representatives was waiting for him upon his arrival, as well as much of the Coalition High Command. This was an impressive feat, considering how scattered they normally were across the galaxy - some had gone so far as to leave war zones to make it back in time.

It had only been a matter of hours since his acceptance and tensions were already simmering. As Regrad mounted the steps to the House's front doors, even his fellow Azguards avoided the House as if their danger sense knew what awaited him inside.

Regrad, seeking distraction, looked about the building instead of thinking about the awaiting business. It was inelegant when compared to the Imperial palace, a very functional building more in line with a fortress than a house of government. There was just as much space as necessity required, and though not entirely bereft of decoration, the newness of the building meant it was devoid of history. It was simply too gleaming and too new to seem a truly significant house of government. In that sense, it shared a lot in common with the Coalition at large.

Regrad arrived at the doors to the main chamber of the House of Representatives. Several Azguardian soldiers, anxious for his safety, prepared to escort him to his seat. He waved them away, not wanting to look the military dictator in a time of crisis.

As Regrad entered the main chamber all eyes turned to his arrival. Each step still managed to echo despite a packed House until he reached the table facing the assembled Representatives at the front of the room. He took his seat, his various ministers and trusted lieutenants all around and facing outwards towards a silent mass of delegates.

Regrad steepled his fingers. "So I take it you all saw the meeting?"

There was a mute aknowledgment from the crowd. Regrad nodded back. "Then let's get to work."

The doors closed. The representatives began to air their grievances and concerns. Dialogues and arguments were started and finished, agreements were made, but perhaps most significantly, the Coalition survived.

For now.

EPILOGUE











The plan was exceedingly simple. Since it's capture before Endgame, Asation always played a large factor in the ongoing plans of Simon Kaine due to the link the world shared with the planet Onyx. If not for Theren Gevel's drive though the Ison Corridor smashing the Outer Rim Sovereignty during his Dark Empire campaign, the Supreme Commander might have struck at Onyx driving a spear through the heart of Joren Arden's government once and for all.

Due to it's unique purpose, Kaine kept a permanent military presence on the planet to take advantage of his desire to seize that link and seize Onyx. As a result, Asation became a heavily fortified bastion of Imperial influence within those unknown reaches. It was the stop before the frontier of Csilla.

With INS working round the clock to keep the tragedy of Glee Anselm on the foremost thoughts of people as well as the Onyxian Commonwealth's role in the affair, the Coalition region's support base was weakened. Coalition member states were waivering in what once was their rock solid foundation of mutual support and encouragement. With the attack on Bilbringi, the cooling relations between the Coalition member states suddenly heated to a breaking point. And it was in this atmosphere that Kaine wanted the hammer blow to fall.

The declaration of the Onyxian Commonwealth as a rogue state gave him a free hand to enact a plan older than Endgame. With Grand Admiral Desaria's lightning hit-and-run tactics driving the individual worlds of the Onyxian Commonwealth apart by making them fend for themselves given the loss of fleet at Bilbringi. It was Kaine's desire to meet Desaria at Onyx.

What he had in mind, however, was not a battle for the territory of Onyx. Any force going up against the ramparts of Onyx would not find victory easy. For the former Outer Rim Sovereignty leaders who still held sway over this commonwealth and if ORS had taught the High Command anything, it was that their views regarding the military was almost 'Imperial' in nature. Onyx would be highly industrialized, highly militarized...essentially, a tough nut to crack. Kaine's plan, fortunately, did not call for the nut to be cracked. It called for the nut to be...obiterated.





Onyx


Captain Globbula felt the vibrations of the Claymore increase and was glad they had entered the destination system. Another day of these vibrations would have the crew in straightjackets!


Pip was on Helm, directing their ailing Virtue towards the proper port approach and Globbula saw that the Azguard chose the safest yet quickest route.


Gods save you, Pip! Thank the maker!


"Captain, short range holonet coming online!" the Communications Officer informed.


"Captain! There's alot of traffic around the ports! It looks like... it looks like ..well, it looks like a mess!"

Globbula sighed and set his arms to bring his full stout stature out of the Captain's chair. "Get me Command."



A haggard looking General appeared on the screen and his eyes widened as the Virtue's call-tag flashed. "Where's Logan?" he barked out.


Captain Globbula was momentarily taken aback. "General? We never made it to Bilbringi. We barely made it back here. We weren't at the battle!"


The Onyxian General seemed to deflate at that moment, "So you don't have a fleet at your back?"


"General, we are nearly carrying the Virtue on our backs! We have need of a repair berth.."


"Captain, we are surrendered! We have seven more days to vacate the Commonwealth before the Empire clamps down."


"You're not going to fight!" Pip blurted out loud and the General's hologram looked around as if searching for the offending voice.


"Where HAVE you been!? Prime Minister Regrad has surrendered the Onyxian Commonwealth to the Empire rather than fight! The Empire has granted two weeks for those of us that don't like living under the boot of Emperor Hyfe to leave for the new borders of the Coalition! We have seven days left which means we have to lift off in three to ensure making it to the border!"

"Is everyone leaving?" Globbula asked softly. "Are you the highest ranking officer?"


The General rubbed his sleepy eyes. He had obviously been burning the candle at both ends in dealing with the emergency. "The political leaders have all left. They saw the writing on the wall at day one. There is an admiral or two here but they are helping with evac logistics. We have too many people that want off and no enough ships! And no, not everyone is leaving. To the civies, this is home. We've had soldiers abandon their duties to drift back into the civilian population and stay. Those soldiers doing their duty will lift off.. we took an oath to the Coalition, after all. Grand Admiral Desaria is closing and should be in system in another day or two. His attacks have been halted but his advance has not."


The vice was closing but Captain Globbula still could not understand. "Surely an Onyx in defiance might negotiate terms.."


"No. We could not." the General stated flatly. So flatly that Globbula was taken aback again.


The General clearly did not have time for this but the Virtue now represented the most powerful warship (and a Coalition warship at that) in Onyx space which gave Captain Globbula the right to a little more time.


"With the Fleet lost at Bilbringi, we have nothing left of significance to hinder a truly determined Imperial advance. With Desaria's Vanguard, it only further serves to keep us off balance, disrupted and fearful. Who do you think will be coming after Desaria? Bhindi Drayson? Kach Thorton? Park Kraken? They'll come in with their massive fleets and reduce each system, planet by planet. With the loss of the fleet, the Coalition cannot defend effectively the borders as they stand. We need to consolidate. The Prime Minister understands that. Especially with the East crumbling and falling back. The soldiers coming from Onyx can help bolster the retreating line! We're too far for the Contegorians to do any good but they can aid with the East."


"We did see a surviving Contegorian ship. They were headed back to their territories.." Captain Globbula had a hard time wrapping his mind around the ship opting to report to it's regional commander rather than the proper Coalition authorities. But perhaps he was just being sensitive.


"Then he'll run into an Imperial Fleet at Metalorn. They should be there now."

"They don't miss a trick, do they?" Globbula replied a little bitterly.

The General waved that away, "I went off-track before but what I wanted to say was that nothing we do can thwart a determined Imperial advance, especially with each planet worried about themselves. So Regrad chose life! I don't know how he did it but the Imperials gave us a two week window to evac and we are taking it. There are thousands of ships fleeing the commonwealth and if we fight back now, we place each and every one of them in danger. They will lose their safe passage!"


"I cannot believe Desaria would fire on civilians! His honor.."

"We would be a people going against our word and taking advantage of the Empire's generosity! How do you think Desaria's honor would compell him to respond? The Empire would do it and you know it! They were already prepared to do it anyway."


"It's just... It's just that you have all this..." the Captain's arms went wide as if encompassing the world.


The General smiled grimly. "Deceptive isn't it? I would like you to scan the coordinates I am sending to you. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT act!"


Pip was already adjusting the display to overlay the sensor results and Globbula had trouble at first in identifying what he was seeing.


When he realized what it was... the blood drained from his face.



There was Kaine!


Checkmate.





Asation



The computers ran the calculations and the connection was made.


"Probe away!" someone reported though he could look out a plexiglass window at the Nexus below. Their automated defense network was primed, targeting each individual machine. Several of them were inoperable, like the one that Kaine had used to reinforce his Endgame plan, but even so, they took no chances. It was, after all, alien devices and machines they used.


"Incoming telemetry!"


The data instantly displayed and Commodore Quinn saw that the device was both unprotected and abandoned. It seemed those who discovered the device were no longer around and had not been around for a long time and it lay forgotten.


The incredible planetary defenses of Onyx were positioned outward as if in anticipation of Grand Admiral Desaria's arrival. As they plugged into the local holonet, there was outrage from most of the political leaders at the decision of their Prime Minister to abandon a length of space that had suddenly become too difficult to manage, defend and protect from themselves. The news of the decision had just reached them.


Not too soon as well for these people did not know that the Prime Minister had sacrificed his reputation to pay for the breath of life they were wasting in derision.


Commodore Quinn looked at the vast array of nuclear weaponry and knew, with the telemetry provided, he could have reduced Onyx's industrial and military capability forever.


The computer was already assigning targets to the readied weapons


If Regrad had refused. If Regrad had remained defiant, Onyx would be nothing but ghosts for the order had finally come from Kaine.


Obliterate the world!


Wipe out everything!


Grand Admiral Desaria's Vanguard would have met a dying planet and absolutely no resistance. With Onyx removed from the equation, the rest of their commonwealth would have soon followed having been unceremoniously stripped of their will.


A Spartan walked towards the Gree Hypergate.


...and then through it. Followed by another and another...


As the Commodore watched whole groups of people, equipment and machines disappear through the gate, he turned to his command staff, "I'll be going through in a few minutes. I want the connection maintained indefinitely until we secure the world. If they so much as jump in our direction, launch!"




Onyx


"In the confusion and as we were looking out for the Imperial Fleet to suddenly appear in orbit, they established a foothold and brought several of their dirty weapons through. We didn't even see that damned probe of theirs until they set up secondary stations around that damned gate! And where the hell did THAT come from?! Imagine our surprise when we were asked for Vonta Horn's access password trying to find any data on that damned alien thing! I mean, who the hell is Vonta Horn!?"


Captain Globbula shook his head. He didn't know. He really didn't care. The question as to why the defiant talk and grand speeches of resistance suddenly dried up. They were watched by persons who could reduce their planet to a burning cinder at the slightest betrayal of the agreement brokered by the Prime Minister.


No wonder the politicians took off!


He saw that the General was looking at him expectantly. "General, the Virtue is at your disposal but we really need a berth to repair what we can. If you need us to ferry people, send them up to the station, and we'll find space for them."


The General relaxed. "I really appreciate your cooperation, Captain. I really do."


"Are we going to trust the Empire at our rear, General?"


"Lance Shipwright balks if you ask him for anything greater than a power-node but I am sure the Confederation can send some ships to watch our back. It's not as though we're losing them!"


Captain Globbula had to agree at that and, in the end, he saw the Prime Minister's thinking: Things can be replaced. Ships and worlds... but people? They were not expendable. Life was precious and would always be so.


And that's what Regrad had given the people of the Onyxian Commonwealth..



A fighting chance to live!



"Pip, slide us into a berth but keep an eye on the Imperial base. I don't like missiles targeting us."


"I'll keep two eyes on those Imperial devils!"



Devils indeed. If they were prepared to simply obliterate the existence of Onyx.






Onyx


"Moorings cleared, Captain."


The Claymore Battleship Virtue slipped out of it's repair bay easily and much more smoothly than it had entered. The crew had performed outstandingly accomplishing much with litte time. He entered a commendation for everyone to be sent to Command as soon as they reached Coalition space.


The General had taken the Captain's quarters finally getting a much needed rest. The virtue was over filled with passengers but Globbula did not expect to be getting into any fight soon.

The crew and passengers were apprehensive as Grand Admiral Desaria's Vanguard flanked the leaving vessels. Already there were transports and shuttles from the Imperial fleet to meet with the ground forces securing Onyx.


If not for the Gree Hypergate, we might have made a fight for it.


And alot of people would have died.


And for what?


Even if the battle was won, they couldn't have held!



He cast one last look at the silver orb of Onyx.


Enjoy it well, you Imperial bastards. We'll be back!





Crossings, Coalition Border



The Virtue had made several stops in their trek from the former Onyxian Commonwealth, going only as fast as their slowest ship. Already, a few transports needed some time for maintenance and repairs as all ships were at capacity and then some. Their systems were being taxed beyond what they were designed for and the proof was in the telling.



"Sir, sensors have identified a ship entering range.."


Captain Globbula tensed wondering if it was some ambush designed to catch them way out in the open, signalling for the ship to slide into battlestations without disrupting or panicking the passengers.

"It's one of ours! It's the Iron Mantis!" Pip nearly shouted, giving everyone an immense feeling of relief.


"They are hailing!"



Captain Globbula had only known of Captain Vespian by reputation but even though he did not personally know the man, he didn't have too to know that something was wrong.

"Captain.." Vespian initiated. "Going to secure transmission."


Globbula nodded and Pip entered a few commands from his station. "Line secure." It was probably a good idea as his 'fleet' was largely civilian and they didn't need stray signals being intercepted by well-intentioned but ill-informed people.


"We are here, Captain, to escort you back home. I am sending a course plot outline for your navigators to review."


Globbula nodded his thanks but General Haggerty, who had commanded the Onyx Evacuation, frowned. "I thought I requested ships from the Contegorian Confederation?" He was more puzzled than anything and quickly added, "Not that I don't appreciate your presence, Captain Vespian."


Trajan smiled grimly. "I understand, General. Unfortunately, we just received word that the Contegorian Confederation has ceased it's association with the Coalition."


Captain Globbula, General Haggerty and Pip were flabbergasted.


"You've ..you must be mistaken, Captain." General Haggerty stuttered through his shock.


"I wish I was, General."


"Why?" Captain Globbula asked out of honest curiosity and despair.


"Apparently they do not like our elected Prime Minister making decisions that affect them. Apparently, we aren't perfect enough. Apparently, they thought surrendering the commonwealth territories was too much for their sense of honor and we should have sacrificed your lives to retain it." Trajan shrugged. "I honestly did not care to look at the wording as it sounded too much like an INS article. We've got bigger problems."


"Those... Those.. chicken-livered bastards!" the General stammered. "They're cutting and running when the life is getting tough! What the hell is democracy good for if you don't have the stones to protect it?!"


"In any event, the Cren Alliance is behind the wall of the new Imperial Occupation Zone. They are on their own for now. And we've not heard from Gestalt and honestly, I don't expect too. You have one run in panic, soon everyone begins to follow." Trajan suddenly clapped his hands, "traitors to the Coalition aside, I must say I am glad I found you. The Coalition could definitely use good men, women and beings...especially now."


"How can you be so up-beat in the face of such betrayal!" Pip bashed his consol in frustration.


"Captain, you have an irritable Helmsman.", Trajan remarked but Globbula shook his head, "He's just voicing what we all feel, Captain."


Trajan sighed, "Gentlemen, women and beings. My grandmother used to say the 'proof is in the telling'. We have lost military engagements, we are evacuating several worlds and are frightened. We have been betrayed by those who we once called, friends. But what cannot be taken away is what we are! Even hurt, frightened and betrayed, we stand as a rock against overwhelming odds! Not because we know we can win. Not because we are too stupid to see the forces arrayed against us. But because we are RIGHT! I do not expect the likes of Lance Shipwright or the Contegorian Confederation to understand that now. But they will understand it sooner or later. When perhaps New Oceanus breaks from the Confederation in much the same manner as they opted to do to us, then perhaps they will understand the pain and death they've caused.

And yes, people will die because we have acted and are acting with the expectation of them fulfilling their Coalition Charter. They've cut that and the severed wound is still fresh. Now is not the time for judgement. That is what Joren Logan did when he sallied forth to strike Bilbringi.


Following their examples will not do us any good nor will it do the dead justice!


So, for now, let us simply accept what has happened as fact and move on from there."


The Captain of the Iron Mantis leaned forward, "Does that meet with your approval Helmsman?"


The Azguard had the audacity to look begrudging but nodded, "Agreed!" he said as General Haggerty and Captain Globbula raised their eyebrows.


Vespian merely looked amused. "We have a convoy to direct and some people to bring home. As to the routes, I would your opinions since, obviously, you know what your ship's can and cannot do..."